Chapter 6
Disclaimer I own nothing! Everything belongs to George R.R. Martin and the creators of the show. I only own the original characters.
Warning! There is sensitive material in this chapter! Also this story is unedited, please try to ignore the mistakes
" Promise me, little Eve," the woman said smiling and gently laced her pinky finger with the little girl. The little girl smiled and started up at the woman, whose smile did not reach her eyes. You could hear a man yelling from outside the room and could hear banging on the door and roars of drunken laughter outside. The mother looked worriedly at the door and quickly pushed the little girl under the bed, "No matter what you hear, little Eve, promise me," The woman said forcefully and gripped the little girls hand tightly. Tears sprung in the little girl's green eyes as her heart quickened with fear, "I-I- p-p-romise, Mother." The mother nodded slightly and quickly kissed the girls hand and then shoved it under the bed and pressed a finger to her lips, urging the young girl to be quiet. Suddenly the mothers head morphed into a young man's as he cried out 'mother' and then a knife slowly entered his chest and he slumped to the floor, lifeless. A cry of grief and anguish filled with the air along with the screaming of a child. Everything was morphing into one-
Everra woke up with a start, slightly panting. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she placed a hand over her heart, trying to calm it down. She glanced over at Anna, whom was still fast asleep with her neck titled upwards, her mouth opened slightly. She could hear the sound of the horses moving from outside the wheelhouse. They had been on there way to Winterfell for a week, with only a little less of day of riding to go. Everra could feel something rising in her chest every time she thought about them getting closer and closer to Winterfell. It almost made her want to turn back around, pack her things and return to Essos as fast as possible. Almost.
She glanced at Anna again and frowned at the sight of the fading red marks around her neck. She had been jumpy and frightful all throughout their trip and when she thought Everra would not notice, tears streamed down her face as she muffled her sobs against her hands. Everra did notice though, she noticed almost everything. Everra felt something akin to sympathy towards the girl, truly she did, but she knew that she wasn't feeling sympathy towards Anna as she was towards the memory of her moth-
Everra closed her eyes painfully and willed the image out of her mind. Slowly, slowly, she felt the coldness creep its way back into her heart as she finally came back to her usual self. Everra glanced around the rather large wheelhouse and frowned in annoyance. She hated the wretched thing, if it hadn't been for keeping up appearances she would have burned the bloody thing to the ground.
Suddenly, she could feel the wheelhouse coming to a stop. She frowned slightly and quickly stood up and reached for the door, swinging it open. She peered out of the door and called out, "Why have we stooped?"
They were in the middle of the road, with nothing but trees surrounding them. The sun was still out and there was not a house in sight.
"My lady the men were in need of a slight rest for a few moments…" the guard trailed off at the cold expression on her face.
Everra replied cooly, "And so you decide to take a rest, without giving me any warning and decide to do so in the middle of the road where thieves and rapists can attack us at any given moment with not a village or an inn in sight."
The guard puffed his chest outwards slightly and said, "My lady if you are doubting our ability to protect you-"
"I am not doubting your ability to protect me, I am doubting your intelligence or perhaps the existence of it."
The man flushed slightly in embarrassment and diverted his gaze from hers, his pride wounded. Everra could feel herself growing annoyed at the man and clenched her fists tightly, "Tell the rest of the men to get a move on, at this rate I'll be grey headed and barren before we arrive at Winterfell."
Then she promptly shut the door and sat down in her seat, still clenching her fists. She glanced sideways and noticed that Anna had woken and was currently rubbing at her eyes, trying to remove the redness surrounding them.
"My lady, is all well?" Anna asked, her voice small.
Everra regarded the girl carefully and felt a twinge of anger pierce her heart, not at Anna but at the man who had done this to her. The wheelhouse finally started to pull forward and she glanced the annoyance leave her.
"As well as anything can be at the moment it would seem Anna."
Everra's gaze softened so slightly that Anna could not tell. Anna reminded Everra of someone she once knew and at the thought of her Everra's gaze quickly hardened as she turned away from the young handmaiden and harshly told her to go back to sleep.
Everra did not have the time to deal with the ghosts of the past, she had too many deal with in the present.
"My lady, did you ever think that the King has summoned you to Winterfell so he could command you to marry the stark boy?" Ser Daavos asked.
Everra stopped pouring the wine into her cup and quickly placed the wine onto the table and turned around to face him.
They had stopped at an inn for the night, so the men and the horses could rest and Everra had payed the innkeeper to give her and Ser Daavos a private room so they could eat and discuss the plans.
"Yes I have thought of that before," she replied softly, breaking the silence. She walked back towards her chair, cup in hand and sat on it, bringing her knees up to her chest and biting her lower lip.
"And how do you plant to stop that from happening, if it happens."
Everra snorted slightly and looked directly into his eyes and sighed, "Lets just say that Lord Eddard Stark will not agree to me marrying his son." She said this as though she was mocking Lord Stark.
Ser Daavos frowned slightly and protested, "My lady why wouldn't he? You come from one of the most wealthiest families in the whole of Westeros and Essos and you're… you're beautiful." His voice trailed off slightly at the end and his cheeks warmed.
Everra however, did not seem to notice her companions embarrassment and replied in her usual cool manner, "I also happen to be the daughter of one of the cruelest men in the history of Westeros and according to many rumours, I also happen to be following in his footsteps. My father despised him and believe me the feeling was mutual."
Curiosity filled Ser Daavos eyes at her statement. Everra never mentioned anything about her father except the occasional 'Oh yes, I mourn for him still, thank you for your kindness' if anyone who had known him apologised to her for his unfortunate and brutal demise.
She hadn't spoken to him about how her father had died and the one time he asked she had only sighed and said, 'Thats a story for another time, perhaps maybe one day I'll tell you it, but not anytime soon'. He had dropped it and never brought it up ever again over the past few years, though there had been times when he was tempted.
Everra noticed his curiosity and felt very tempted to roll her eyes but simply settled for waving her hand dismissively and said, "There is nothing very exciting about it. They simply met and disliked one another. My father was probably too much of a viscous bastard and lord Eddard was probably too honourable for my father to be able to stand in the same room as him," noticing Ser Daavos's slightly disappointed expression she added, "There is nothing more to it."
If only he knew, she thought to herself bitterly.
They sat there for a few more moments in silence until Ser Daavos cleared his thought, "My lady, fatherly dislike aside wouldn't it be more… convenient for you to be married to the Stark boy?"
Everra's lips turned slightly as took a large gulp of her wine, she looked as though she was considering something briefly and then said, " I thought about it for a while but then I realised, it wouldn't work, I'd be under the constant eye of both my husband and his mother and I'd have nowhere to put my army and I'd lose my home and believe it or not I don't ever plan on losing it. Besides I do not exactly fit the usual characteristics of a Stark do I?" The last part was said almost playfully but it fell on dead ears.
"It wouldn't work. I'd end up dead, Daavos if I married him, besides if everything is to go as planned, Robb will marry the Frey girl and I will marry the man we discussed."
It was final, Everra would not be marrying Robb Stark but Ser Daavos had a sneaky suspicion that there was another reason that she wouldn't marry him, she just wouldn't tell him, as usual.
"Why is your mother so dead set on us getting prissied for the king?" Jon said, voice tinted with annoyance.
"Not only for the King but for the Queen as well," Theon added, "but also for Lady Everra Legrath, lady of the Bloodlands," Theon said wishfully, sighing sightly.
Jon and Robb just chuckled at him, amused, "Is there any woman you meet or hear of that you do not lust over Theon," Robb said, his voice amused.
Theon scowled slightly and protested furiously, "But this isn't any woman, I've heard rumours that say she is the most beautiful woman in all of Westeros. Even more beautiful than the queen herself," he added thoughtfully and then a look of shock crossed his face.
Robb would have laughed at his friends lustful tendencies if it hadn't been for Tommy shaving his cheek.
"Do you think that the King summoned her to Winterfell so he could execute her?"
Robb snapped his face towards him, eyes widening with confusion, as did Jon's, "Execute her? Why?"
Now he'd turned to face his friend completely, Tommy forgotten.
Theon smirked arrogantly and said, "Well now she is interesting ain't she?"
Jon and Robb scowled at him and urged him to continue. Theon bent down slightly and whispered rather loudly, "On her first night home she executed when of her Lords. Well slaughtered I should say, him and his family, wife and children and all. People are already calling it 'The Blood Feast' it was so brutal."
Jon frowned slightly and muttered, "Well I pity the man who gets stuck with her."
Theon heard this and sneered, "Well its not like you'd have a chance with her, now would you bastard?"
Jon snapped his head up and glared at Theon, feeling slightly stung.
"Hey, hey hey, calm down the both of you," Robb snapped. It always annoyed him when they fought.
The mood was tense and quiet until Robb stood up and tugged Jon towards Tommy, quipping, "Go on Tommy, chip him good, he has never met a girl he likes more than his own hair."
Theon laughed at this and Jon grumbled slightly, but even he was smiling. But deep, deep, down, Robb had felt something tighten in his stomach at the mention of Lady Everra's name. He felt slightly intrigued by her. He remembered when he was younger that whenever his father would mention anything about the Legraths his face would tighten with anger and he would speak with a bitterness that he had not known his father possessed. Deep down in his heart of hearts Robb knew somehow that he would be seeing a lot more of Everra Legrath. When Robb looked back on this moment many months later, he would chuckle with bitterness and amusement at that severe understatement.
"My lady which dress do you wish to wear?" Anna asked placing two dresses on the bed, " The black and red one or the green?"
"The green one for when we arrive and the black and red one for the feast." Everra called out from the bath and gently splashed some water onto her face.
"My, its very beautiful my lady, are you-" Anna flushed slightly, "Sorry my lady, its not my place to ask."
'No your right its not, but you were already asking anyway so go on."
Anna stiffened slightly and sighed, " Are you planning on finding a suitor when we arrive at Winterfell my lady?"
Surprising both of them, Everra let out a loud a chuckle. The chuckle slowly turned into mad laughter and Anna turned around to stare at her gobsmacked.
"My lady?' Anna asked slightly concerned.
"I'm sorry!" Everra managed to get out between her laughter. It wasn't happy laughter though, it was bitter and cold and it sent a chill down Anna's spine.
Everra finally calmed down and looked up at her from the bath and shook her head, "No I have no intentions of finding a suitor."
No I just plan on helping a boy I've never met win the war of the five kings and he doesn't even know he is going to be in it.
Anna made a faint sound of acknowledgment and placed the black and red dress back into the chest. Everra climbed out of the bath and pulled the tie from her hair, allowing the long black locks to tumble down to her waist. She reached for her robe and slipped it on, wrapping it together at the waist.
Everra regarded the Anna closely and sighed, striding over to the nightstand and yanked it open grabbing one of knives and gripping it in her palm.
Everra stood there looking at Anna contemplating whether to not to give it to her.
"Anna," she called out softly, Anna turned around and peered at her, frowning slightly, "My lady?"
"Come here," Everra said. Anna felt her stomach tighten slightly and shivered slightly, gripping her elbows. Last time someone had told her to come to them she had ended up being ra-
Anna winced painfully and wiped at her eyes which had suddenly brimmed with tears. She gulped loudly and glanced at Everra who had been watching her with a detached expression, twirling the knife in her hands.
"I'm only going to ask you this once," Everra stared at her with a blank expression, not a single drop of sympathy or concern on her face, "Were you raped?"
Anna let out a sound halfway between a gasp and a sob and clutched her chest, her heart limp and fragilein her chest and she slumped down on the floor, sobbing, tears streaming down her face.
Everra stood there for a few moments and then slowly walked up to the sobbing girl on the floor, kneeling down in front of her.
Everra's eyebrows knitted together as she scrutinised the sobbing girl on the floor. Everra did not feel anything towards her, she did not particularly care for her or like her, she barely tolerated her but then again she barely tolerated most people, but she knew that Anna was a… person with feelings and who did good things. She wasn't like her, in any way shape or form. Perhaps it was time to change that.
"Hey, look at me," she said forcefully to the girl but Anna did not seem to have heard her. Anna felt as though her heart was slowly getting ripped out of her chest and she kept on sobbing, she did not think she could ever stop.
" Look at me!" Everra said again with more aggression and gripped her face forcefully, tilting it up to look at her and force Anna to look her in the eye, "Listen to me, what happened to you… happened. It's over now. It's done. That man raped you, " Everra said calmly and emotionlessly and continued on, "He took what he wanted from you and he enjoyed it. He enjoyed breaking you."
Anna whimpered slightly and tried to divert her eyes from Everra's with little success, "Do not let him win."
Anna stared at her in confusion, mouth opening slightly, "Emotions are weakness. Crush them. Forget them. Otherwise they will swallow you whole and take everything you are with it. He tried to break you, but you must be stronger that that. Do not let him win. Brace yourself. You cannot afford to be weak. Thats not an option. I will not have a handmaiden who flinches every time someone accidentally touches them. Take those emotions that he made you feel and crush them. "
Everra rose from the floor and offered her her hand which continued to hold the knife, "But," she continued, " sometimes people can't steel themselves against their demons," she gently placed the knife into Anna's palm, " sometimes its better for them to eliminate them altogether."
Then she swiftly turned away from the girl and strode over to the dress laid out for her, leaving Anna alone in her shock. Anna stared down at the knife thoughtfully and gripped it tightly in her palm. She suddenly felt a burst of strength fill her bones and she slowly but surely rose from the floor, still gripping the knife in her palm. She shoved the knife into the sleeve of her dress and wiped at her eyes, missing Everra's nod of approval at her actions.
"Very good, " Everra muttered approvingly. Anna nodded enthusiastically and clapped her hands together, her lifelessness forgotten.
"You look beautiful my lady!"
Everra glanced at herself in the mirror again and felt satisfied at her appearance. Her dress was a dark green at the sides with gold in the all the way down the middle embroidered with dark green floral patterns. The sleeves of her dress were also tinted gold and hung down on her arm. The dress accentuated all of her clothes and showed a hint of her bust. The upper half of her raven locks had been clipped back and a circlet headpiece graced her forehead with a lone emerald in the middle.
Everra had always known that she was attractive, she had used her looks to her advantage in the past the moment she realised that one of a man's greatest weakness is his cock.
There was a large knock on the door and Ser Daavos called out, "My lady?"
"Enter!"
As soon as Ser Daavos opened the door, Andromache burst into the room and quickly leaped towards Everra and she bent down and petted her. Ser Daavos looked annoyingly at the panther and cleared his throat to speak but then he got a proper look at Everra and looked rather speechless.
Everra glanced back at him and motioned for Anna to leave, "Send in a servant to get my chests to the wheelhouse."
"Yes my lady."
Anna quickly scurried out of the room and shut the door behind her, leaving the two of them in silence.
Everra raised an eyebrow at the man in front of her and said, "Ser Daavos? There was something you wished to discuss with me?"
Daavos snapped out of his gaze and his cheeks flushed slightly. He cleared his throat and said, "My lady you asked me to send for you when the men were ready to leave."
Everra nodded slightly and glanced around the room. "This is it, I suppose then. The start of a war."
Everra looked at him closely and asked, "Do you think I should just end it before it begins."
Ser Davvos looked at her in shock and sputtered, "My-la-dy?"
Everra repeated herself, "do you think I should stop this war from happening? A better person would. A kinder person. A person who wasn't a monster."
Ser Daavos opened his mouth in protest but Everra waved him off, "I know what I am perfectly well Daavos. I've done monstrous things in my life. Things that would cause most people to agonise over them every night and to kill themselves out of guilt and disgust."
"But your not most people," Ser Daavos said.
"But I'm not most people," Everra agreed. "You know I think thats why they- whoever they is- told me about it. About all of it. They knew that I would do anything to win this war. Sacrifice anything, kill anyone, do anything. My first priority has always been to survive, to do whatever it takes even if it meant losing myself piece by piece," Everra trailed off and looked at him directly in the eye, her eyes not showing a hint of emotion.
Daavos felt slightly confused as to why Everra was telling him this. She had never…. done this before. He wasn't even sure what this was.
"You are probably wondering why I am telling you this, aren't you?" Everra asked and didn't wait for his answer.
"I am telling you this because I want to prepare you." At his bewildered expression Everra continued on, " I am not the kind of person who has personal attachments. Never have been, never will be. I have learned to not invest myself in that kind of thing. But you haven't." Everra looked down at their feet and linked her hands together.
"This war…. many people will die. I will look many of my soldiers in the eye and tell them to go die for me and I won't feel guilty about it. I won't feel guilty about any of it. This day, I will look a boy of ten in the eye and pretend that I do not know that he will be a cripple in a few short days and I will still sleep like a babe. But you won't. The guilt will fill you up inside until there is nothing of you left."
Everra took a step towards him and looked him in the eye, " I need your reassurance that you will not let emotions get in the way of our mission."
Ser Daavos felt flabbergasted. Never, not once had she asked him of this or doubted him. At least she had never voiced these doubts aloud. He loved her with all of his being and he would do anything for her. If she asked him to cut off all his fingers, he would do it in a heartbeat.
And so he looked her directly in the eye and swore that he would not let his emotions get in the way.
Everra did not look pleased or relieved, she didn't show any emotion at all at his declaration all she did was nod briefly and say, "Good. Now tell the men to prepare themselves we are leaving in a few moments."
Ser Daavos moved past her and headed for the door and as he reached it and was about to open it, her voice stopped him, "Daavos you have proved yourself to be a… friend and I am…. grateful for your companionship over these past few years. But if you ever breathe a word of anything to anyone I will kill you without a second thought."
Ser Daavos stood there for a few moments and tried to pretend as though she had not just ripped his heart in half.
"Go now, the men are waiting for you," she commanded.
Ser Daavos felt himself nod and he swung the door open and quickly left the room, trying to keep his emotions in check. He leaned against the wall and sunk down to the floor, scrapping a hand over his face, his grey eyes troubled.
Call him a simpleton or a mad man, but he could not give up on her or stop loving her even if he tried. Even if he wanted too. He had to keep on trying, to keep on being there by her side even if she didn't need him because that was what love was, being there for someone through thick and thin, even if they do threaten to kill you.
With that, he rose to his feet and continued down the hall, ignoring the loud moans and groans and shrieks of laughter echoing from the other rooms. He ignored the suggestive looks he got from the whores and continued on his way, trying to get the voice that kept on saying 'I will kill you' out of his mind.
"The King is going to be here any moment now, where is your sister?" Catelyn whispered furiously to Sansa who shrugged indifferently.
Robb muffled his chuckle and kept his eyes on the ground, not in the mood for his mother to glare at him. He heard Jon chuckling from behind him and held back a smile, Arya had always been uncontrollable.
Arya suddenly came bustling in front of them with a helmet on her head and his father reached out to grab her arm, bringing her movements with an abrupt stop.
"Hey hey hey hey, what you doing with this on?" His father asked sternly and lifted it off her head, ending the helmet to a nearby guard. He shook his head at her, looking faintly amused, "Get on."
Arya hurried off next to Sansa and shoved Bran to the side, "Move," she demanded furiously and stood next to her.
Robb could hear the distant sound of the horses hooves and took a deep breath, feeling strangely nervous. He frowned slightly and willed the nervous fluttering out of his gut. His eyes darted towards the gate of Winterfell as he realised that the royal party had started to flood through the gates. First a few guards came through and then a boy of similar age as him came through on his horse, his golden hair standing out from his pale skin and his face twisted with an arrogant sneer as he stared intently at something next to Robb. Robb glanced out of the corner of his eye at Sansa whose blue eyes were focused directly on the golden haired prince.
Robb felt a twinge of disgust in his stomach, he had heard that Prince Joffrey was a right royal prick, he did not want his sister to be stuck with him, prince or not.
"Where's the imp?" Arya asked Sansa.
Sansa turned to face her little sister and snapped, "Would you shut up?"
Arya rolled her eyes in annoyance at her sister and scanned her eyes across the royal party, looking for 'the imp'.
Then came the King with his Kingsguard, Robb had heard stories of the King and how he was a great warrior whom had defeated Rhaegar Targareyn at the battle of the Trident and who had rebelled against the throne but now he was a shell of his old self. Drunken, red faced and fat, with a black beard covering most of his face, Robb pitied the black horse beneath him.
"Robb!" Arya whispered. He looked over at his sister, her grey eyes peering up at him in frustration, "Where is Everra Legarth? Father promised that she would be here, where is she? I've heard she has a black panther, I don't know its name though, but she is like our family with our dirwolves and-"
"Shut up!" Sansa snapped.
Arya fell silent as did the rest of the courtyard as the royal party came to a stop. They all simultaneously sunk down on their knees and bowed their heads in respect to the King. Robb could hear the King dismount his horse and could hear his heavy footsteps make their way towards them.
There was a moment of silence as King Robert stood in front of his old friend Lord Eddard Stark and he motioned for them all to rise.
"Your grace," Ned muttered and they all rose. Robert looked up and down at Ned and said, "You've gotten fat."
Everyone glanced at each other warily, a king usually did not address his lords in such a manner.
Ned did not look concerned or offended and simply glanced meaningfully down at Roberts stomach and they both burst out into laughter and hugged each other, clapping each others backs.
"Nine years, why haven't I see you?" Robert asked.
"I've been guarding the north for you, your grace, Winterfell is yours."
Robert chuckled slightly and reached over to hug Catelyn and kiss her cheek, leaving her looking flustered, "Cat!". He bent down and ruffled Rickon's hair and turned to Robb, "You must be Robb?" he asked him and he nodded slightly, shaking the Kings outstretched hand. He moved on to Sansa and the Arya, then Bran.
The queen approached them from her wheelhouse and looked around distastefully. She was a beautiful woman, with beautiful golden hair which her children had taken after her and pale creamy skin, with green eyes and thin pink lips which were pulled into a forced smile.
Queen Cersei offered Ned her hand and he bent down to kiss it and she simply nodded in acknowledgement at the rest of them. I guess all the rumours about the Queen were true, Robb thought to himself and found himself looking for the other guest, Lady Everra.
As if the King could read his mind, he turned to Ned, asking "Where is the Legrath girl?"
Ned simply shrugged and said, "I suppose she must have been help up n the road, your grace."
Queen Cersei let out a scoff and snapped, "She must be punished for her rudeness my love-"
Robert turned to her, his face thunderous, "I'm not going to punish her for being held up on the road, you-" He caught himself in his anger and took a deep breath muttering, "Your father would like that wouldn't he."
Queen Cersei's face tightened and for a moment Robb thought they were going to start screaming at each other but stopped at the distant sound of horses approaching the gates of Winterfell. Everyone turned towards the gate as a new wave of guards came flooding through. The Queen moved next to the King and the rest of the royal children assembled beside their mother whom was standing next to the King.
As the guards approached, a handsome man atop of a white horse seemed to be scanning the crowd, in search of something and when his eyes landed on his he did a double take and then quickly diverted his eyes to the King. Robb shook off the feeling of uneasiness he got from the man and cleared his mind. His heart was pounding in anticipation and he could hear Arya clap her hands excitedly and he could have smiled at his little sister if he had not been so nervous.
The wheelhouse came to an abrupt stop and the air was tense, you could cut through the tension with a knife. Robb could hear the pounding of his heart in his ear and could feel his hands sweating inside his gloves.
The man whom was on the white horse approached the door of the wheelhouse and Robb's heart rose in his throat and he gulped loudly, ignoring the questioning look he got from Sansa and could feel Theon poke his back and whisper, "My gods, she best be least pretty."
This did nothing t calm Robbs nerves and tried his best to mask his was frustrated with himself, he had no clue as to why he felt so nervous. He had tried to think of something as he lay in bed last night, unable to sleep. Something had occurred to him yesterday which made him nervous, what if his father planned to wed him to this Everra girl? He knew he would have to wed one day, as his responsibility as the future of Lord of Winterfell he knew he had to marry someone, he just…. felt nervous. He felt like a simpleton, he might not even have to marry this girl.
At the sound of the door of the wheelhouse opening he snapped out of his thoughts and brought his attention towards the wheelhouse. The air was thick with anticipation and when the door of the wheelhouse finally opened Robbs heart rose in his throat but to his surprise and everyone else's as a sleek large black panther leapt out of the wheelhouse. He saw his mother and father share a wary look. A plain looking handmaiden gingerly exited the wheelhouse, her eyes widening with wonder as she took in the castle. Her mouth opened slightly as she realised that the King and Queen were there and she quickly shuffled out of the way, bowing her head.
And then the most attractive woman he had ever seen in his lifetime stepped out of the wheelhouse.
He felt Theon let out a whistle and nudge his back, whispering "Gods be good she is more than pretty."
She had long raven coloured locks that reached her waist and the upper half was pinned back, she had full pink lips and the dress she was wearing showed off her ample chest and her curves. She had the most intriguing eyes he had ever seen, they were a beautiful emerald green colour with black lashes framing them but unlike the Queen's whom at least had a look of dictate in them, her eyes were cold and hardened, like they were glass. She assessed the crowd for a moment and her eyes scanned over the crowd and for a brief moment, which was so short Robb thought he imagined it for the longest time, her eyes widened a fraction when hey landed on him and just as he had deemed it impossible, her eyes drew colder.
Swalling his nerves, Robb straightened his back and kept his emotions off his face and looked her directly in the eye. He was not going to be made a fool of by this woman, he wouldn't allow himself to be deemed as weak to a woman he barely knew.
Lady Everra's mouth seemed to twist in slight approval at his actions and he would have given anything at that moment to have known what she was thinking. Little did he know he would be thinking that a lot over the next few years.
She strode towards the King and Queen, her head held high and even though Robb had never spoken to her in his entire life, he knew that she was not someone to have as an enemy. Her panther was quick to follow her mistress and the man with blonder hair also followed, standing a good distance behind her but close enough to shield her if need be.
She knelt in front of the King and Queen and spoke loudly, voice firm and clear, no waver of fear in her voice, "Your grace my sincerest apologies for being so late. I hope you can forgive my rudeness."
There were a few moments and silence and Robb noticed to his disgust that the King was looking right down her dress. He vaguely heard Arya gasp at the sight of the panther and yank at Sansa's hand who quickly ripped it away from her and returned to staring at the Prince.
"No need for apologies my lady, rise," The King commanded and so she did, all the while her gaze unwavering. She turned her attention towards the queen and curtsied and the queen put an obviously forced smile on her face.
"Welcome, Lady Everra its a pleasure to meet you, " the queen spoke with fake sincerity.
Lady Everra nodded slightly, "Thank you for your kindness your grace."
The King rolled his eyes and snorted and quickly tugged her into a hug. She didn't look fazed by this, almost as if she had been expecting something like it but kept her arms at her side. The King pulled away from her and scanned her up and down, his eyes lingering a moment too long at her breasts but she seemed to take no notice at least if she did, she did not show it.
"You look just like your father! His eyes, his face but your hair, I'm assuming thats your mothers?" She nodded slightly and he continued on, " I knew your father, liked him too, he helped me win the war!Did he tell you that?"
"Yes your grace, he spoke of it often and very fondly," she replied, her voice cool.
"By the gods, " the King muttered and scanned her face again, drinking her in, "You are more beautiful than my wife and she's supposed to be the most beautiful woman in the seven kingdoms!" Everyone tensed at this and Lady Everra protested slightly, "Your grace the queen is the mo-"
"Ain't she Ned?" The King said, turning around to face his friend who had suddenly become quite solemn. He was unaware of the tension he caused and the humiliation he caused his wife.
Robb continued to watch in silent earnest at the exchange, not knowing that this would be one of the last days of his normality.
As Everra stared into Ned Starks grey eyes, she felt a twinge of anger in her heart and could feel her rage begin to spread around her body but she quickly quelled it, she was not here for the ghosts of the past.
She could feel the Queens glare at the side of her face and could feel her cold fury radiating off of her. She felt both Roberts and Joffreys lustful gazes and felt almost tempted to snap both of their necks, gods know it would save everyone a lot of trouble.
"Yes, you are very beautiful my lady, any man would be lucky to have you," Ned Stark replied stiffly and she curtsied.
"Thank you for your compliments Lord Stark, I am most grateful," she replied cooly.
The King stared back and forth at the pair and seemed to take notice of the tension and quickly said, "Now that we have gotten the formalities out of the way, I would like to pay my respects at the crypts."
Ned turned to stare at his old friend and felt a rush of gratitude towards him for remembering. Everra took a small step away from the King and Andromache nuzzled her head against her upper thigh. She gently laid her hand on the top of her head and stroked it slightly.
The Queen quickly protested at her husband actions, " My love we have just arrived surely the dead can wait."
The king turned to stare at his wife for a moment and looked at her with such distaste that Everra almost pitied her. Almost. The king turned around and stalked away from the group, Lord Stark guiding him.
Everra turned to face the rest of the group and quickly identified them, Catelyn with Rickon to her left, then Robb, Sansa, Arya and Bran. For a split second, when her eyes met Catleyns, her scream of grief and anguish echoed through her mind and she relived the brief memory of watching Lady Catelyn's throat get cut to the bone.
She turned towards Rickon and took a step towards him,, "What is your name?"
The small boy turned towards his mother and she nodded at him, he turned towards her again and smiled shyly, "Rickon Stark."
She nodded slighltly and said, "You can call me Lady Everra." She forced a small smile onto her face but it had no warmth or friendliness and Rickon quickly buried his face in his mothers skirts. Everra did not particularly care, she had always been bad with children, even when she was one.
She turned towards Lady Catelyn and felt the familiar twinge of anger pierce her heart and she felt tempted to curl her hands into fists, "Lady Catleyn," she said, voice cold.
The older woman's blue eyes met hers and she replied, "Lady Everra, what a pleasure it is to have you here at WinterFell, I hope you enjoy your stay here, " she put a smile on her face, but it did not match the guarded look in her yes.
"Thank you, Lady Catelyn your kindness is truly touching, " she said this in a manner that could have sounded insulting if it hadn't been for the usual iciness in her voice. Everra quickly turned away from the older woman's gaze, stepping towards Robb.
"Forgive me my lord, you must be Robb correct?"
Robb nodded, his blue eyes were cool and held their own against her stare and she felt a slight rush of approval. There's the young wolf I know she thought.
"You are correct Lady Everra, it is a pleasure to finally meet you," he replied, his voice strong and clear.
She nodded slightly and turned away from him. He was a handsome man, even she admitted it, with his mothers traditionally Tully looks, his curly auburn hair and clear blue eyes he was quite attractive. Too bad it did not make much of a difference to her. She greeted Sansa and found herself feeling rather amused at the girl's obvious jealously towards her for temporarily stealing the prince's attention. Everra could have laughed at the irony.
As Everra reached Arya she noticed the girls poorly disappointed expression and after she finished asking her name she found herself asking, "What is the matter Lady Arya?"
Arya snapped her eyes towards hers and her cheeks warmed, "Well you're not what I expected-"
"Arya!" Lady Catelyn cried out, appalled at her daughters manners. Everra turned her attention towards her for a moment and said, "No its alright, no harm has been done."
Lady Catelyn backed down and cast a worried glance towards the pair worriedly, she knew that Lady Everra was not someone to insult.
Everra raised an eyebrow, "How so?"
The girls cheeks turned a bright red and she glared at her furiosuly, "Well you were supposed to be this great warrior who had done all these amazing things and who rode into the battle on the back of her giant panther but now your just another ordinary girl."
Everra regarded the girl closely and sighed, "Well I'm afraid that one of those things are false, I do not ride into battle on top of Andromache's back I believe that would be quite uncomfortable for the both of us."
As if sensing that they were talking about her, Andromache purred sightly and nuzzled her head against her upper thigh. Arya looked on in excitement and looked eager too touch her, "I suggest you do not attempt to pet her if I'm not around, she will bite of your hand. She's not much of a fan of anyone but myself."
Arya deflated slightly and looked at the ground embarrassed, Everra took notice of her dejected expression and said, "I'm going to offer you some advice little one," she bent down slightly to look her directly in the eye and said, "Never be what others expect of you, that way you can always surprise them. Predictability is dangerous."
And with that, she turned away from the girl, repeating the same actions with Bran as she had done with the others and as he answered her questions with innocence only a child could have, Everra felt Daavos stiffen behind her slightly and she almost sighed. When the introductions were over, she glanced back at Daavos and let out a breath she had not known she was holding.
The war of the five kings had officially begun.
A/N OMG that was the longest thing I have ever written in my entire life and I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you for all of you who favourited and reviewed and followed, it really means a lot too me. I reallyy hope you guys like Everra's development this chapter and the introduction of the Starks. If you have any questions or complaints please let me know. And for all of you who were wondering about whether or not there is a massive possibility of a Robb/Everra romance….. yes and no. I will say this again, there is going to be some romance in the story as a matter of fact there will be a lot of kissing and stuff in the story but I can not confirm or deny couples. That would almost be like me telling you guys the entire plot, even though some of the couples might be obvious.
Please review! Thanks again!
Until next time! :)